Monthly Archives: August 2014

My dad suggested I start this section because he really likes Devil’s Pale Ale 666 and has been recommending it for years. I’ll take it! Look for Classics Revisited every other Thursday. Thanks, dad.

Sure, I like 666, but it’s not the be all and end all of dark APAs! It does have awesome branding, and an even cooler signature hearse you can often find parked outside Great Lakes Brewery. I don’t see people drinking this very often, which is a shame. It’s a good malty APA with an ABV of 6 per cent, of course. It uses six premium malts, but only four hop varieties. I call for two more to be added! Brewmaster Mike Lackey tells me that when it was first brewed in 2006, “we wanted to do something different than we were doing at the time (three different lagers) and we really went out on a limb with a biggish, maltyish APA.” They changed the recipe significantly a few years ago to match changing hop availability, and might change it again in a few years.

My friend Krysta finishing off my 666 at the ROM earlier this year!

666 was created on June 6, 2006 (6/6/6) as GLB’s first seasonal ale. It’s still around in tall cans at the LCBO, and has yet to be rebranded! Rock on, 666.

The closest most Torontonians have gotten to DDC is by trying the Rosée d’Hibiscus at one of Toronto’s many craft beer bars. For those not in the know: Montréal microbrewery DDC was started 16 years ago by Stéphane Ostiguy and brewmaster Jean-François Gravel. Both did their masters in molecular biology. Jean-François had been homebrewing for many years, and started DDC with an intention of innovation. At the time, all the other five brewpubs in Montréal were offering two to four brews. DDC started with six. To date, they’ve brewed well over 100 beers. I first tried them when an ex brought back cases of DDC beers from a trip to Quebec. The variance, mastery, and design all won me over. DDC is world class beer.

My first smoked beer? Charbonnière. First variance of incredible strong stouts? Péché Mortel and Aphrodisiaque. First barley wine? Solstice d’Hiver. Even after trying many varieties of these styles, DDC’s stand out. I could go on and on about their godly branding (which I bet is a result of being raised in religious Quebec), and their beautiful label art, which stems from Gravel’s university friendship with artist Yannick Brosseau.

Ralph and Stéphane

Instead, I will tell you that Volo’s owner Ralph Morana met Stéphane the year before the first Cask Days (2005), and they’ve been making beer history ever since. Morana originally opened Volo as an Italian restaurant without knowing much about wine, and like many people who start learning about wine…. he got into beer. In addition to being one of the first (family-run!) craft beer bars in Toronto, Volo brews beer, runs events, designs and imports beer. They’re the reason DDC has been available in the LCBO for the last four years. You can always get DDC beer at Volo, but the tap takeover’s leftovers mean that you should go ASAP. Look at this list.

What’s next for Volo? Only the biggest beer nerd event in the city: Cask Days is happening at the Evergreen Brick Works October 24-26. Tickets go on sale September 1st.

Calabaza Blanca is a barrel aged white ale featuring that unmistakable Belgian yeast, notes of banana, and sour with a grapefruit finish. Great for those new to sour beers and connoisseurs alike.

Les Trois Mousquetaires Gose is the only gose the LCBO currently carries. Slightly salty and sour, really nice. Buy it because it’s different. Mix it with grapefruit radler. Do it.

Framboise: both Lindeman’s and Amsterdam. The Lindeman’s is a 2.5% Belgian sporting a nice mix of sour and sweet; not at all overpowering like some sours! Great on its own, better as a cocktail base with ice, mixed with wheat beer or champagne. Amsterdam’s is also brewed with raspberries instead of flavouring, is a beautiful shade of dark raspberry and is well balanced without being sweet.